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Ladylike Tomboy Meets Modern Classic

— by Inge

on August 14, 2013

Lexington-based Beth Parker (34) has been documenting her outfits since April of last year over at seersucker + saddles. She describes her style as “Classic Feminine Tomboy with a dose of Glam”, and has developed a more practical approach to dressing stylishly after becoming a Mum:

“I would say as I’ve gotten older and become a mom, I have finally understood that I cannot (and should not) try every trend. Whether it’s just not practical for my lifestyle or not age appropriate, I understand that I will love many trends that come and go, but that doesn’t mean I need to try every trend. I also understand the importance of fit and wearing things that are flattering for my figure. High waisted — I LOVE it, but not necessarily my best fit. Also, as much as I love high heels, you will NEVER see my wearing them with my girls unless it’s for an occasion or I’m dropping them off at school and heading to work — practicality just seems to have a more important role in my looks than it did in my 20s.”

For anyone wondering how Beth came up with the quirky name of her blog, she adds:

“While it sounds trite, I truly have loved fashion ever since I was quite young. I also was a pretty creative kid and that has only continued to grow as I’ve gotten older. S + S was the perfect outlet for me to exercise that creative need I desire in my life. I knew right out of the gate I wanted to pay homage to both geographies in my life that have played a huge role in shaping who I am today. Florida is where I was born and raised and where my family still resides today. “Seersucker” equates to South Florida and all things preppy that I grew up loving in my little beach town of Jupiter, FL. Lexington, KY is the horse capital of the world and where I currently reside and raise my two little girls. Kentucky also has a very special place in my heart as it’s where my girls were born. You can’t drive through Lexington and not feel that the town centers around all things equestrian and therefore, “Saddles” seemed like the obvious partner!”

Lighter colours and soft pastels play an important role in Beth’s wardrobe. At the same time, our blogger has a refined rocker streak that she likes to express through the use of tougher looking footwear and jewellery. This girly rocker tomboy look marries the two opposing elements seamlessly. The rocker vibe of the camo print skinnies and studded ballet flats is toned down by adding a sweet eyelet blouse with Peter Pan collar. Then the arm candy amps up the tough again: a leather wrap-around bracelet with small studs and a brown animal print cuff on one arm, chunky gold chain link bracelet and black watch on the other. The rich cognac hue of the tote and belt look fab against the camo green. And notice how they both have white stitching, which subtly emphasizes the crispness of the top.

As a busy Mum on the go of two little girls, Beth has a few tricks up her sleeve to dress stylishly every day:

“Choose a go-to look. Mine is a button down and either jeans, be it colored or printed, or shorts — tucked in with a belt and flats of some kind. I try to do variations on it, but I know when all else fails and time is not on my side, I can snag those items and I will feel pulled together. Also, I cannot stress enough, the importance of purging your closet at least twice a year. I swear, the less you have in your closet and the more organized it is, the easier it is to pull together a look!”

Beth is living proof that a Mum on the go uniform doesn’t need to be boring. She has a real knack for tweaking her go-to looks by mixing it up with different colours, patterns, interesting footwear and accessories. Case in point, this happy explosion of bright colours! From pale blush to candy pink and neon fuchsia, Beth loves all shades of pink and she wears them often. Here she’s sporting a schoolboy blazer in a saturated bright pink. Pairing this vivid hue with equally bright orange shorts is a bold choice, one that our blogger pulls off with aplomb. The happy turquoise gingham shirt livens up this playfully preppy look even further, while the oversized tangerine bib necklace and colourful assortment of bracelets tie it all together. Choosing earthy browns for the belt, small satchel and oxfords is a somewhat unexpected choice, but it works splendidly. It grounds the outfit, and the hot pink sole on the animal print oxfords — fun pattern mixing with the shirt – is a clever nod back to the blazer.

As a fervent stripes fan, I’m high-fiving Beth who proudly claims that “essentially half of her wardrobe consists of stripes”. This is a great example of Angie’s striped tops with unexpected bottoms formula. The streamlined leather pencil skirt look exemplifies Beth’s love for strong, simple outfits with clean lines. Beth rocks a midi, and the proportions with the hip length striped blazer are exactly right here. The soft tucked tee adds a casual, nonchalant touch and forms a nice contrast against the more severe black leather. Eye-catching croc ankle strap heels and bare legs also create great textural contrast. The black and white theme is continued with the fun clutch, that simultaneously yet subtly adds another pattern to the mix. From her impressive jewellery collection, full of statement pieces, Beth has picked a chunky black and silver necklace and striking cuff bracelet that have her signature rocker twist written all over them. While the soft pink lipstick, tortoise sunnies and Beth’s always polished short do — a key accessory in all her outfits — keep the ensemble feminine and sophisticated.

Colourful Modern Classic with a hint of British countryside, an equestrian-inspired outfit after my own heart. The over-the-knee boots, argyle pattern and rich orange-y red tones makes this look for me. They make me long for the beautiful Fall foliage and brisk walks with hot chocolate waiting at home. The sleek silhouette shows off Beth’s fit physique. Flat riding style boots are a chic and practical option for business casual offices, running errands with the kids in tow or enjoying family activities on the weekend. Baby wale cords can be a fun alternative for skinny jeans or ponte knit leggings. The open-at-the-collar button-down shirt layered under the V-neck sweater feels relaxed, the sharp-shouldered blazer provides structure and polish. As always, Beth has carefully selected accessories to complement her look. Gold-rimmed Ray-Bans and a super chunky link bracelet echo both the gold of the boot zippers and hardware on the Louis Vuitton bag.

There’s no question that Beth adores sneakers, just browse her blog to check out all the lovely outfits she has created with them. I especially adore this one because it’s such a fun take on the romantic lace skirt. Sporty spunk with a dash of quirky. It’s also a sweet way to wear red, white and blue together. Beth dresses down the lace by semi-tucking a casual lightweight sweater. The slub knit adds extra textural interest, the animal print Converse are a brilliant spot of pattern mixing. I love how this look, at first glance, consists of a mishmash of different elements — stripes, animal print, lace, five colours — that don’t necessarily go together, but Beth makes it work in a cohesive and stylish way. She also has a penchant for good-quality classic handbags in neutral colours that fit her Modern Classic style to a tee. This oversized navy blue number picks up the colour of the skirt, effectively tying together the entire outfit. And notice how the chain strap echoes the large links in the neon yellow acrylic necklace? That’s what I call a good eye for detail.

This is my favourite! I love how the slim fit of the drape front faux leather jacket contrasts with the flowy silhouette of the dress. It reins in the volume and provides a bit of edge, but the dress on its own is just as lovely. Such a gorgeous shade of green and delightful in motion! The neckline emphasizes Beth’s toned shoulders, the trapeze style is breezy and loose without overwhelming her frame. The high-low skirt, revealing part of the ankle, has the effect of a midi with a dipped back, which I find flattering and elegant. The big minimalist metal cuff, gold-tone men’s size watch and arty necklace — in the same colour as her bag — take this outfit to the next level. High-vamped animal print sandals and an oversized minty blue clutch finish off this fashion-forward look.

Which element of Beth’s fab Mum on the go style appeals to you the most? Let us know in the comments, and be sure to check out the rest of her outfits and our blogger’s pinboards too.

Beth’s photos were taken by Kristin Tatem.

Outfit Bloggers

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The Return Of the Tall Boot for Fall 2013

— by Angie

on August 13, 2013

Knee-high and over-the-knee boots were never out of style, but booties and mid-calf boots have been the more on trend and fashionable choice for at least three years. In fact, booties have become a year-round shoe, and are being shown with just about everything.

We’re not saying goodbye to booties and mid-calf boots this year either. Not at all! But knee-high boots are also trending for Fall and Winter 2013, which is quite the change. As a general trend, footwear is becoming more refined and less chunky. Most of the tall boots are dressy and with a low or high heel. I pinned some outfits during the Fall 2013 designer shows in February so take a peek:

Gucci: Patent crocodile with round shoulders and shades of textured black.
J. Mendel: Tan boots with flowing midi skirts.
Jil Sander Navy: School girl fun with grey pointy toe boots.
Reed Krakoff: Flat over-the-knee boots with shorter skirts.
Victoria Beckham: Pointy toe boots over faded jeans.
Tommy Hilfiger: Colour-blocked boots with graphic black and white.
VPL: Light-coloured boots with a sack dress.
Louise Golding: Patent boots with a two-piece dress.

I’ve been favouring booties and mid-calf boots for the last few years as my tall boots gathered dust. That’s going to change this season because I feel like wearing my taller boots again. I am covered in the casual tall boot department but will be on the lookout for more dressy options.

Autumn 2013

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When to Make Off-Season Purchases

— by Angie

on August 13, 2013

There are many ways to shop off-season, but they all have one thing in common: you have to wait a good long while until the weather cooperates to wear the item. So you are really purchasing for someone else — future you — and there is a real risk that she won’t like the item.

Here are some examples:

You find knee-high boots on deep discount at the end of season Winter sales when warm Spring temperatures are well on their way. You probably won’t have a chance to wear those boots until the end of Fall.
You purchase a cashmere coat at an outlet mall in the blazing heat of August, ready to wear for Christmas time.
You finally find the perfect Summer dress at a thrift store in Fall, knowing it will be six months before you can comfortably wear the pretty frock.
You purchase a bikini in snowy February because stores generally stock the best assortment of swimwear at the start of a new Spring retail season. In this case, it can be argued that you bought within the retail season, but off-season for your style.

Finding bargains and saving money, or unexpectedly finding exactly what you’ve been looking for, are good reasons to make off-season purchases. Of course, allowing them to gather dust in your closet before there is opportunity to wear them is not ideal. Your style preferences might change by the time that opportunity rolls around.

If you are agonizing over an off-season purchase, the following questions might help you reach a decision:

Is the item a “must have” or a “nice-to-have” on your shopping list? — must have
Is the item very hard to find? — yes
Is the item perfect, or do you have (even minor) doubts about it? — perfect
Do you like to adjust your style a little or a lot from season to season as you experiment with new trends? — a little
Is the item more “timeless classic”, or is it more “current trend”? — timeless classic
Will you be able to wear the item within 3 months? — yes

The more your answers match the ones in bold italics, the more likely it is that you should make the purchase.

My feelings about off-season purchases vary by the season. I bat for Team Wear, so I find it easier to shop off-season for my dominant seasons, Autumn and Winter, because it won’t be long before the weather is right to showcase the new items. That’s one of the reasons I love the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, which sells brand new Fall merchandise in July. I can wear some of the items I’ve purchased right away, and come September and October, the rest of the items are in full swing. Nordstrom’s lenient return policy is an added safety net.

I have a hard time shopping deeply discounted end of season Summer sales because, living in Seattle, my window to wear the items is short. Buying bargains in September to wear the following July does not appeal to me. Partly because I like to wear new items right away, but mostly because there is a strong chance that I will have changed my mind about how I want to dress that season by the time the item is ready to wear. This renders the purchase a waste of money.

Does off-season shopping work for you?

Shopping Strategy

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Fab Find: Sam Edelman Okala Pump

— by Angie

on August 12, 2013

I have RAVED about these ankle strap pumps before. Soft leather, cushioning footbed, elastic insert on the ankle strap, and lightweight are what make them extremely comfortable. I bought the Okala pump in pony print first and they unexpectedly became wardrobe workhorses. I loved them so much that a friend gave me a pair in cheetah print for my birthday.

If animal print is not your cup of tea, they are also available in solid black, and colour-blocked burgundy and black. I found them to run true to size, but they do not work for a wider foot. Great with skirts, dresses, cropped pants and shorts. And just in case you think you can’t wear ankle strap footwear because it’s unflattering, think again.

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Fab Find · Footwear

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The Big Kitty Top

— by Angie

on August 12, 2013

Great news for cat lovers. Cats are a fashionable inspiration more than ever at the moment. We’re used to seeing cat marking prints like tiger, cheetah and leopard patterned merchandise every season, on just about every wardrobe item and in every fabrication. But here I’m talking about a different kind of cat print. Not the marking, but a picture of the cat’s face or full body in some form or other.

The graphics are realistic or abstract, and found on tops like t-shirts, silky tops, upscale sweatshirts and pullovers. The examples below are representative of the trend.

At first I thought this was a teenybopper trend, but soon changed my mind as I thought back to Versace’s wildly popular silky cat designs of the early ’90s. Then I incorporated big kitty tops into the dressy nostalgic tee ensemble for some of my clients, pairing it with a more sophisticated support act.

Wearing big kitty tops as layering pieces is one option if you’re worried about it looking too juvenile. Furthermore, some cat graphics look less childish than others, so choose a panel print that conveys a more “grown up” spirit.

If you’re besotted with cats, I vote YAY for big kitty tops. Why not wear a graphic of an animal that is close to your heart on a wardrobe item. Express this love through your style.

Over to you. Would you wear a big kitty top? If not, do you vote yay for others? Or is it a juvenile look best left to teenyboppers?